Hey ya'll! Ho are you guys doing? Thank you for the reviews! And heres the next chapter! sorry for any grammatical errors, and I don't own Inuyasha or Vampire Knight! Enjoy! :D

"Sesshomaru-sama! Young lord Shippou has arrived!" Jaken squeaked out in his bowed position. At a swat of Sesshomaru's hand, Jaken lifted from his position and waited for his next instructions.

"Send him in."

"Yes, milord." He said with a nod and swiftly moved out the door. Not a second later, Shippou, in his prime age, bellowed through the door with a foxy smirk. Anyone with a sane brain would know that a smirking Shippou was nothing good, but Sesshomaru, being as untouchable as he was, ignored it.

"You called?"

"This Sesshomaru has made plans to visit your mother, you will keep careful watch of the affairs here."

"Over a five hundred years and you still speak in third person," Shippou commented with a playful snide. "…and don't you mean watch over Rin?"

Sesshomaru glared. While his underlying meaning was profoundly clear, he did not appreciated Shippou calling him out on it.

"Do not test this Sesshomaru's patience, kit. Now, I have matters to deal with before my leave, you will prepare yourself."

Shippou watched Sesshomaru move around his office. So much more different than how it had been hundreds of years ago, but it still brought back the nostalgic feeling. He remembered the day Sesshomaru had taken him and his adopted mother in. he had saved them that day, more importantly, he had saved Kagome. So, in all good faith, he didn't quite agree with their upcoming binding, because anyone could see the painfully obviousness of duty stamped over this mating agreement.

Like light bulb lighting up above his head, Shippou took advantage of Sesshomaru's occupied mind and quickly reached out to him, as he brushed past letting his power rush over into his streams with an almost non-existent touch. While he had no idea on how to help Sesshomaru and Kagome break out of this mating thanks to a certain demon lord's stubbornness, he could help them reach a point of truth, one that could most especially help Sesshomaru break free out of his pathetic behaviour and be the demon lord he used to be.

"Ah, glory be the day you return to the demon you were, Sesshomaru, I will gladly join you in sinking my claws in these old council fools. Glory be that day indeed."

XxxxXxxxX

Zero liked to think of himself as a daring person.

Born into a generation of vampire hunters, ironically becoming a vampire later in his life, he deduced that nothing fazed him anymore. Sure he was declining to a mad vampire, but that only encouraged his desire for an early death, thus increasing his fearlessness. It wasn't the first time death crossed his mind either. Despite being indifferent and cold, his soft heart was shown at times enough to fool others that he was not that scary. However, no one was able to see just how damaged the vampire hating teen was. He took it all in, put a lid on those depressing thoughts and continued on waiting for his end like a man, and if that's how it was, so why was he trembling now?

…And that over something as trivial as this?

"They will know."

"No one will know."

"I have perfect duties, they will definitely know."

"Oh pipe down. It's a simple go in and out mission."

"Mission? You're flattering yourself."

"Don't tell me you're scared of getting caught."

Zero growled as his hands balled into tight fists at his sides. He just didn't understand why he had to tag along! If anything happened, or wore, they got caught; she's not the one who will be facing harsh punishments. Sneering at the smirking Kagome, he huffed at her in response and turned away to face their current barrier. That was all Kagome needed to now her plan was a go and Zero was not backing out.

Teenagers, she thought with a gleeful smile. Nodding at the tall gates, entrance to the prestigious academy, Kagome bent her knees and with a powerful leap, she glided gracefully over the gates with a flip and landed softly on the other side. Looking back expectantly at Zero, she raised a brow at his awed expression.

"Coming?"

"Yeah, yeah," Zero grumbled, "Don't expect anything fancy like you just did though." He said, put off that while being a vampire, his naturally given vampire gifts weren't exactly honed to be useful. Stepping back a few feet, he eyed the nearest tree next to the gates and thanked that the brick walls weren't as tall as the gates.

"God help me." With that he took off in full speed, leapt up to the first branch of the tree and used all his strength in that second to jump over the wall. His landing was more of a tumble compared to Kagome's. It was messy and embarrassing, but lucky for him, Kagome wasn't about to judge him. Though that didn't stop Zero from reacting as if Kagome did.

He stood up stiffly dusting away the dirt caught on his jeans; glaring at Kagome, he snapped, "What?"

Taken aback, Kagome held up her hands defensively. "Nothing…yeesh." Holding a hand out for Zero to take only to have him brush her hand aside and stand up on his own, Kagome reconsidered her plans- the idea of leaving him behind was beginning to sound more appealing. Instead, she plastered one of her infamous perky smiles and erected a barrier around herself and Zero, successfully hiding their auras and scent.

"Lets go before anyone notices, this shouldn't take long at all."

It didn't take long before Kagome and Zero stepped on the road leading them into the main town. The short journey till then was both good and bad. Good, because Kagome had someone to talk to. Bad, because Zero could feel his ears bleed the longer Kagome talked.

"So I said, this had to be the most pathetic wa-"

"Tell me again why we are in town so late at night?"

Pausing, not appreciating the interruption, Kagome huffed childishly and complied without complaining. "I've been snooping and there's this shop just around the corner somewhere here that has these amazing candles. Trust me, these candles will do you wonders tomorrow."

Zero rolled his eyes. "Oh, right. Candles. Sneaking out, breaking academy rules and not doing perfect duties, I'd have guessed this mission was to die for."

"Attitude," Kagome sang, dancing circles around Zero with a smirk just to annoy him further. "Come on, you old croon, my magical candles awaits!" She snatched his hand out his pocket and took off in the direction with a magical signature.

Kagome and Zero rounded at a dark alley with a screeching skid. However she wasn't expecting the brick wall they were currently heading towards. She dug her heals into the concrete ground with eyes squeezed tight and hoped she won't be smashing into anything. To her luck, she stopped just a breath away from the wall.

"Ah!" She smiled a triumph smile. "Too much spee-OOF!" Too bad she forgot about Zero, because even if she had stopped, Zero hadn't and he promptly slammed right into her back causing Kagome to smack right into the wall.

Zero snickered, taking his time to step away. He didn't miss the heated glare she sent his way, and for some odd reason, he liked it, call it satisfaction if you would.

Kagome rubbed her face, healing the small scratches from her nose and cheeks. "Gee thanks." Zero shrugged in reply. She grumbled haughtily for a minute before regaining herself.

"So, alleyway, any particular reason we're at an alleyway?"

"We're just a wall away from the shop, can't you feel the magic here?"

"No, not really."

"Tch, are all your senses so dull?"

"Not everyone is like you."

"You're more than a half-vamp, you should be able to feel this."

There was a moments pause before Zero replied. "Thanks for the reminder..."

Kagome bit back her tongue. She passed Zero a rueful smile before taking his hand again, this time in a comforting hold that Zero did not mind at all. Leading him into the alley, Zero whined in confusion when Kagome punched a few bricks in the wall. His confusion wasn't for long though, because before he could open his mouth to let out a snide comment, the wall opened up to a dim-lit shop scattered messily with knick-knacks and ornaments with stacked dusty books in a dark corner.

"Like some harry potter shit, huh?" Kagome whispered, wonder in her voice. He raised a brow at her, sneaking a side look at her entranced expression. Taken aback by such an innocent look, he cleared his throat and averted his attention.

"If only I knew what harry potter was?" Zero heard Kagome sigh. She didn't even bother sparing a glass before walking ahead, her head shaking with disappointment.

"You're pathetic." Growling, he was about to snap back if it wasn't for the sudden appearance of blonde male.

"Ah! Lady Kagome! What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Alvah, darling, how are you?" Kagome gleefully greeted gliding into the open arms of said male. Zero stayed back, deciding not to interfere since Kagome seemed to forget he was there and opted to join this Alvah in a hushed conversation. Sighing in annoyance, he cursed himself in whatever he saw in that moment of innocence in Kagome and occupied himself in the littered antiques on a nearby shelves.

Weird. And fascinating.

Zero picked up a shard from a questionable corner. From a distance it shined pink, bright pink with the dimmed room, but when he peered closer at the tiny glass piece, he was surprised to find shadows moving within it. Steering back from the shard, Zero blanched. Now he was no magical decipher, but what he saw freaked and intrigued him.

"I see you found one of the rare shards."

Tensing, Zero later relaxed when he realized it was only the owner, Alvah. Kagome peered at him with amused hues, quietly staring, just smiling, not saying a thing, and if the shadow-moving shard freaked him out, the look Kagome was giving him scared the hell out of him.

"Uh, yes, it's very interesting." Zero managed out, looking away from Kagome and back to the shard still pinned between his thumb and fore finger.

Alvah stepped forward, his head tilted to the side as he smiled eerily. "It's not the original, but it comes from the shikon no tama legend."

"I'm not familiar."

"Of course you're not, vampires usually aren't." If Alvah saw the wince coming from the silver haired male before him, he didn't bother calling him out on it. Instead he continued with his grand tale. "Its centuries old, say seven or eight hundred years old since it was born. A warrior priestess was engaged in a chaotic battle against hoards of demons and in her last moment of life, she trapped her soul, along with the other four souls of the demons within a time pink bauble. They say once you have the jewel, you can make a wish."

Zero snickered, not believing the tale since he had not heard of any 'demons' roaming around unless they came from a religious background. "How convenient."

"You think?" Alvah countered. He plucked the shard out of Zero's hold and twirled it in his long, pale fingers. "It's a trick you see. There is purity then there is taint. Since the jewel consisted of both, a wish made could only feed one. The pure would rid the world of the cursed jewel, and the taint would bring hell. The legend truly began when a brave priestess from a distance future travelled back in time to save our world. A clumsy thing she was. Her first day in the past she shattered the jewel into pieces scattering it all over the lands."

Still a bit unsure, Zero's eyes flickered towards Kagome when she huffed with irritation. Her lips moved in a hurried, but he neither caught her words nor read her lips.

The blonde male stole his attention again.

"But that's a story for another time. In memory of our history, a replica was made touched by the hands of the future priestess charmed with good fortune, and with her sacred arrow she shattered the bauble. Unfortunately the shard you found has lost its charm, but," Alvah cast a sneaking glance at Kagome. "If you're lucky enough, the very same priestess may grace your shard with a touch of her power, or tell you the legend herself."

In memory of our history? Did he just- no, that can't be true. Zero, not sure what to say and not entirely convinced of the story, he accepted the free offer anyway and tucked it away safely in his jacket's chest pocket. He thanked Alvah with an awkward smile and nod of his head.

Kagome clucked her tongue with a roll of her eyes. She looked around the shop for a second before picking out a silver chain and a tiny jar from a far away pile. Now that find was very convenient unknown to Zero. Walking back to her partner in crime, said man raised a brow. She rolled her eyes. Again.

"Stand still." She commanded her hand reaching into the pocket he put the shard in. With quick fingers she poked a small hole through the jar's flimsy lid, slid the chain through, dropped the shard in, closed the jar and fisted it tightly in her palm. Not bothering to warn Zero, she wound her arms around his neck with narrowed concentration and clasped the chain around his neck, but not before letting some of her power charge up the shard.

Baffled, Zero clutched the no makeshift necklace hanging from his neck.

"Its nice, protect it with your life, that shard will do you good." Then she gasped as if she had just remembered something important, something like the reason they were here in the first place. "OH! And the candles will do you good too- Alvah, candles please, we need to leave now before the academy finds out about our little trip."

Within a minute, Kagome's special candles were neatly wrapped away in a bundle of black cloth and safely tucked into Zero's arms. Not wasting time, they made way back to the academy with rushed farewells and more awkward gestures from Zero. Kagome relished in their successful adventures while Zero tried not to encourage her by letting a smile of his own slip at her antics. If only they both knew how short lived their success was because the second they marched up to the academy gates, Kagome, much to Zero's horror, was a puddle of apologies and cries of grief.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, I'm so sorry, Zero, legit sorry, honestly I-fuuuck this cannot be happening, why is he here, oh sweet kami, save me this last time, he's going to kill me, fuckfuckfuckfuck!"

Zero, unsure of the drastic change, dropped down to Kagome's kneeled position and tried to console in the best way possible. "It's okay…I, um, stop it, you're-"

"Dead?" Kagome cut in in an obvious tone. "Yeah, genius, I figured that out." Grumbling at her reply, Zero slapped her lightly on the cheek just to snap her out of whatever she was in.

"Did you just slap me?"

"I wouldn't consider that a slap, but you aren't swearing at the ground anymore are you?"

"How dare you sla-"

"Kagome."

That tone alone had Kagome shriveling up behind Zero and said man was already entering a fearful stage at the large prominent figure staring down at them with an electrified amber glare. Behind the unknown man stepped out Kaname and Kaien, but in comparison they fell short.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome hesitate. "What are you doing here?"

"This one could ask you the same thing, you were not where you were supposed to be and you have hidden yourself from everyone. Pray thanks to the shard that holds your energy, for if this Sesshomaru had to await your presence any longer the consequences would have been dire."

Kagome got up from her floored position, shoving Zero behind her as she silently gave her apologies to the exhausted ex-hunter and passionately growled at the pureblood. "As your intended and alpha female," By default only because the stubborn bastard won't take Rin as mate, Kagome thought but did not say. "You cannot kill me!"

Sesshomaru smiled. Kagome died a little more inside.

"However you are not excusable from punishment."

That was all it took, from the slight drop of his tone, the baring of his fangs and the gleam of his amber hues- she would have to submit, and that openly to their audience. Embarrassing as that may be for her, Kagome did really not want Kaname to gain an advantage on her. He had already been pestering for kami knows what, and this little show of dominance was sure to rile up something if they last intimate encounter was anything to go by.

Stomping down her feet subtly, she brushed off Zero's worried aura and Kaien's pity (Kaname was blatantly ignored), Kagome tiled her head to the side and waited for Sesshomaru's youkai quirks to kicks in. However, no one accounted for Kaname to step in. And no one certainly expected a sudden burst of familiar fox magic.

Sesshomaru closed in within seconds, his hand reached out to Kagome's neck and just as he was about to bit down into her jugular, Kaname materialized beside Kagome ready to snatch her out of the demons hold. Just then a burst of light erupted out of Sesshomaru taking the three in surprise, and in that moment instincts kicked in when Sesshomaru pushed Kagome away into Kaname's arms only to have them both engulfed in a cubic prism of fiery light.

Trapped.

The silence was deafening. Shocked faces were all around.

Kagome, gaining reality first, jumped out of Kaname's arms and with quick decisive movement threw a punch at the prism wall. She bounced back, thrown violently back into Kaname's body. They staggered backwards once, twice, before bumping into the other end of the prism.

"Shippou."

I hope you guys liked that, so please review and let me know what you think ^^